To Accept the Cabbage on the Rice

A story about trying to accept the existence of cabbage sitting under fried food in a rice bowl.

The cabbage on the rice bowl is under the fried food

I've always thought about this, but there are things I avoid and don't even want to think about...

That is the raw cabbage laid under the fried food in dishes like sauce katsudon. And it's on top of the rice.

Everyone, can you forgive this? 😅

No, it's not even a matter of forgiveness; I simply cannot understand why raw vegetables are placed on top of warm rice in the first place. Raw vegetables are supposed to be crisp, cold, and juicy, eaten as they are—or, for those who don't like them plain, with a little dressing—to enjoy the natural sweetness and umami of the vegetable. That is the true pleasure of raw vegetables, so why on earth would you put them on warm rice? (*'▽') Why?

I felt a bit uneasy about it, so I asked an AI, but while there are mentions of why cabbage is served as a side for fried foods, no one writes about why cabbage is placed on top of the rice.

Alright, if it's not written, I'll write it myself.

The relationship between fried food and cabbage

This is well known; there is almost no fried food that isn't served with cabbage. And the reasons for this are: 1. Improvement of texture, 2. Providing digestive aid, 3. Creating a visual and refreshing effect.

These are the reasons. That's correct, right? I can understand this.

And if there is another one, it's resetting the palate from the oiliness of the fried food. Juicy vegetables like cabbage create a refreshing sensation in the mouth, and I have the impression that they neutralize the heavy taste in the mouth.

It's not just an impression; I can actually feel that effect, so from personal experience, serving cabbage on the side is a good idea. In other words, fried food and cabbage go well together and help you keep eating.The relationship isn't bad at all. I understand that very well now.

The relationship isn't bad at all. I understand that very well now.

The reason why cabbage-on-the-rice is no good

When you hear 'on-the-rice,' there is only one image that comes to mind. Of course,

Yakiniku on-the-rice! 😋

Dripping meat juices, savory Maillard reaction, and fat. No one would complain about having that on rice. But cabbage on rice is a divisive topic; if anything, I suspect there are more people who disapprove of it.

Cabbage has a high water content. And I think that moisture is refreshing when the cabbage itself is cold, but as soon as the temperature rises, it turns into a grassy smell. When you put cabbage on rice, the heat from the rice quickly raises the temperature of the cabbage, which is probably why it doesn't taste very good.

Also, in bento boxes, placing cabbage under fried food serves purposes like preventing the heat from the fried food from getting trapped and having the cabbage absorb excess oil. It really is a case of the right tool for the right job (lol).

Even after thinking about it this much, I can't think of anything other than the temperature of the cabbage itself. It's a bit of a stretch, but I'll leave it at that.

A ray of light for the act of acceptance

But you know, I had actually realized it. The conditions under which cabbage on rice could work. They are... hehehe.

A moderate amount of salt, and a fresh specimen.

It seems that when these two come together, cabbage on rice becomes acceptable to the palate. Yeah, strictly speaking, it just seems that way😅. Because it's quite rare to find fresh cabbage when eating out. So, it seems like a rather difficult condition, probably.

But you know, I might have a rare encounter somewhere else where I think, 'Huh? Is this cabbage on rice?' I'll keep an 'accepting heart' for that moment.

#WhatAreYouTalkingAbout

Oh, that's right, apparently they were growing cabbage in domains during the Edo period too. If that's the case, then this is

#WhatKindOfDomainRetainerAreYou

right? (lol)

Well then, what shall I try tomorrow?

#Cabbage #Rice #OnTheRice #SaltyTaste #Satisfaction #Eating #Living #33DayWritingChallenge #15DayWritingChallenge #66DayWritingChallenge